RVIA Economic Impact Study

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association commissioned an Economic Impact Study on the RV industry, released on June 7, 2016. The study found that the RV industry contributes about $49.7 billion in economic output or 0.28 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. Through its production and distribution linkages, the industry impacts firms in 426 of the 440 sectors of the United States economy.

Nationwide, the industry is responsible for 216,170 jobs, both directly and inderectly, creating an economic impact of $37.5 billion. The full study results, along with each individual state and congressional district's economic impact is available on the website by clicking here .

RVIA Posts Clarifications About HUD Rule Change

Mon Dec 3, 2018Author: RV News Staff

RVIA has issued an advisory following issuance of a new final ruling on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) definition of an RV on November 16. The regulation is set to take effect Jan. 15, 2019.

In its most recent newsletter, RVIA points out three issues. First, it emphasizes that HUD is claiming no jurisdiction over RVs because the ruling defines “recreational vehicles” as “vehicles or vehicular structures not certified as manufactured homes” that are “designed for recreational use and not as a primary residence or for permanent occupancy” and are either “self-propelled vehicles” or “built and certified in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1192-15 or ANSI A119.5-15.” NFPA 1192 is a standard that establishes fire and life safety criteria for recreational vehicles to prevent loss of life from fire and explosion. ANSI A119.5-15 establishes minimum requirements for the installation of plumbing, fuel burning, electrical, construction and other safety-related systems in park model RVs.

Second, RVIA points out that the new rule requires park model RV manufacturers to display a Manufacturer’s Notice in each park model RV kitchen and provide this notice to the final purchaser at the completion of the sale. HUD asserts that its requirement is distinguishable from the association’s because (1) HUD’s requirement for a Manufacturer’s Notice applies to all RVs built and certified to ANSI A119.5-15 standards, not just RVs with the RV Industry Association seal; and (2) HUD requires its notice be placed more conspicuously than the RV Industry Association seal and serves to inform consumers about the standard to which the unit was built, which the Agency believes differs from the purpose of an RV Industry Association seal.

Third, despite the suggestion by RVIA and others that the new HUD rule not reference the NFPA and ANSI standards for any particular year, the new rule specifies compliance with the 2015 editions of the standards. HUD addressed RVIA’s suggestion by declaring that the HUD rule must reference specific editions of the standards in accordance with the Federal Register’s rules for incorporation by reference to non-governmental publications.

RVIA concluded its industry advisory by saying the new ruling distinguishes between manufactured housing and RVs and clearly states that HUD regulates the former but not the latter.